End closure for disposable dust bag



March 1, 1966 R. L. BROWN END CLOSURE FOR DISPOSABLE nusr BAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1964 IN V EN TOR. P0 y/muva 1.. Brow HIS AT T URNEY March 1, 1966 R. L. BROWN END CLOSURE FOR DISPOSABLE DUS'J. BAG

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1964 IN V EN TOR. En mrwvo L. BE'on/A/ HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent trolux fjorporation, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed him. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 349,861 Claims. (Cl. 22962.5)

This invention pertains, in general, to disposable dust bags for vacuum cleaners; and, in particular, to an inexpensive and substantially self-sealing end closure for such dust bags.

Because of the great work simplification and high degree of cleanliness involved, disposable dust bags are now in general use to collect dust, lint and dirt in vacuum cleaners; e.g., in the so-called tank-type or canister-type vacuum cleaner. One conventional type of disposable dust bag is comprised of a porous paper bag and a fiat cardboard piece which serves as an end closure for the bag. The cardboard end closure is provided with a suitable opening through which an inlet conduit, mounted in a movable end cover of the tank unit or canister unit, is injected to introduce the dust, dirt, etc., directly into the paper bag.

To enhance cleanliness, leakage or spillage of dust or dirt through the bags end closure should not occur while a filled dust bag is in the process of disposal. Therefore, it is highly desirable that the end closure be substantially self-sealing when the inlet conduit is withdrawn from the end closures opening as the end cover is being opened to remove the filled dust bag.

Inasmuch as disposable dust bags are used only once and are thrown away when filled, it is highly desirable that the dust bags be as inexpensive as possible. Since the end closure contributes significantly to the total manufacturing cost of the dust bag it is imperative that the end closure be fabricated from a minimum number of parts and, further, that it be formed with a minimum number of manufacturing operations.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved disposable dust bag for vacuum cleaners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an end closure for disposable dust bags, the end closure being substantially self-sealing as the filled dust bag is being removed from the vacuum cleaner for disposal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an end closure for disposable dust bags, the end closure comprising a minimum number of parts and being formed with a minimum number of manufacturing operations.

Briefly, the end closure, according to one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, is comprised of a sheet of cardboard or like material. The sheet has two apertures therethrough and is suitably precut and scored to form two flaps. One flap constitutes a portion of the material which has been cut from the rest of the sheet to form one aperture and the other fiap constitutes a portion of the material which has been cut from the rest of the sheet to form the other aperture. When the sheet is folded over on itself along a line between the two apertures and cemented together there is formed a two-ply sheet; the apertures in the upper and lower plies being in registry. In the folded condition the flap in the upper ply covers that portion of the aperture in the lower ply not occupied by the flap in the lower ply and overlaps part of the lower flap. Similarly, the flap in the lower ply covers that portion of the aperture in the upper ply not occupied by the upper flap and overlaps part of the upper fiap.

Thereafter, the two-ply cardboard sheet is cemented to the open end of a paper dust bag. The assembled bag is inserted into a compartment in the tank unit of the vacuum cleaner. When the end cover of the tank unit is closed, its associated inlet conduit breaks some of the scored lines defining the periphery of the flaps. As a result, these flaps are hinged inwardly into the dust bag, somewhat like the action of swinging doors, and the inlet conduit is able to enter the bag through the unobstructed opening. This inlet opening is comprised of the two registered apertures in the upper and lower plies, respectively, which are completely opened when the two fiaps hinge into the bag.

When the bag becomes filled after the vacuum cleaning operation and is to be removed for disposal, the end cover of the vacuum cleaner is opened and, as a result the inlet conduit is withdrawn from the opening. As the inlet conduit is being withdrawn both flaps return toward the planes of their respective plies. When they have returned the upper flap occupies and closes a portion of the aperture in the upper ply and the flap in the lower ply again covers the remaining portion of the aperture in the upper ply and overlaps part of the flap in the upper ply. Also, the flap in the lower ply occuies and closes a portion of the lower aperture and the remainder is covered by the flap in the upper ply. The return of these flaps provides a disposable dust bag which is substantially self-sealing.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings of which;

FIG. 1 shows a precut and scored blank of suitable material, such as cardboard, from which the end closure of the present invention can be formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing the blank of FIG. 1 being folded;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the end closure of the present invention having a disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section of part of the end closure of FIG. 3 as seen along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the dust bag of FIG. 3 situated within the tank unit of a vacuum cleaner, the end cover of the tank unit being about to be closed;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the tank units end cover closed and the end covers inlet nozzle protruding through the subject and closure into the dust FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except that the vacuum cleaners en-d cover is open and its inlet nozzle is withdrawn from the dust bag and out of contact with the subject end closure;

FIG. 8 shows a portion of a modified, precut and scored blank useful for forming an end closure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view, on a somewhat reduced scale, of a portion of the two ply end closure formed from the blank of FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, a blank, designated generally by the reference number 10, is cut from a sheet of stilf material having a certain degree of flexibility; e.g., a cardboard sheet or flexible plastic sheet. Cardboard has been found to be suitable because it is relatively inexpensive and it is easily handled, cut and scored. Moreover, the two ply card-board end closure of the present invention has been found to be stiff enough to withstand buckling or bending due to the pressure difference existing between opposite faces of the end closure when the vacuum cleaners suction-producing fan is operating. A scored line 12 divides the blank 10 into two equal integral sheets, or half sections, 14 and 16 which, when folded on the scored line 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) will form two superimposed plies 14 and 16 of the subject end closure a (FIG. 3).

Each of the sheets, or plies, 14 and 16 has the holes 18 and 20, respectively, therethrough; the geometric shape of each of the holes 18 and 20 being generally that of a segment of an elliptical aperture, as shown at FIG. 1. The sheet 14 has the flap 22 integrally formed therein and the sheet 16 has the flap 24 integrally formed therein. Each of these flaps 22 and 24, formed in the way hereinafter described, when swung away from the plane of their respective sheets 14 and 16, in the manner hereinafter explained, leave enlarged openings, or apertures, in the sheets 14 and 16. These enlarged openings or apertures include the holes 18 and 26 which were contiguous with the fiaps 22 and 24, respectively, before the flaps were swung away from the planes of their sheets. The enlarged openings, or apertures, are generally elliptical.

The formation of the apertures through the plies with the flaps 22 and 24 therein in best illustrated at FIG. 1. The sheet 14, which ultimately is to become the upper ply 14 of the end closure 1% (FIG. 3), has a piece completely removed therefrom to form the hole 18 and has two elliptically arcuate cuts 26 and 28 made therethrough. These cuts 26 and 28 pass completely through the sheets thickness dimension. Between the free or leading edge 30 of the fiap 22 and cut 26 there is the relatively short arcuate scored line 32. Similarly, between the edge 30 and the cut 28 there is another relatively short arcuate scored line 34. Intermediate the arcuate cuts 26 and 28 is the straight scored line 36. As will be more fully appreciated hereinafter, that portion of the sheet 14 which has the scored line 36 therein serves as a hinge about which the flap 22 can be swung.

Sheet 16, which ultimatel is to become the lower ply 16 of the end closure 100 (FIG. 3), has a piece completely removed therefrom to form the hole 20 and has two elliptically arcuate cuts 38 and 40 formed therethrough. These cuts 38 and 40 pass completely through the sheets thickness dimension. Between the free or leading edge 42 of the flap 24 and the cut 38 there is the relatively short arcuate scored line 44. Similarly between the edge 42 and the cut 40 there is the relatively short arcuate scored line 46. Intermediate the arcuate cuts 38 and 40 is the straight line 48. That portion of the sheet 16 which has the scored line 48 therein serves as a hinge about which the flap 24 can be swung.

Thus, the flap 22, being integral with the sheet 14, is within the periphery defined by its edge 30, the scored lines 32, 34 and 36 and the cut lines 26 and 28. Similarly, the flap 24, which is integral with the sheet 16, is within the periphery defined by its edge 42, the scored lines 44, 46 and 48 and the cut lines 38 and 40.

When the sheets 14 and 16 are folded on the score-d line 12 as indicated at FIGS. 2 and 3 and their contacting faces are cemented together there is formed the two ply end closure 10a (FIGS. 3 and 4). The sheet 14 serves as the upper ply, while the sheet 16 serves as the lower ply, and the enlarged opening, or aperture, in the upper ply will be substantially in register with the enlarged opening, or aperture, in the lower ply. Afterward, the two ply end closure 10a is cemented to the flat end of the paper dust bag 50. This end is formed with an opening therethrough which registers with the apertures in the two plies. This dust bag may comprise a porous paper bag lined on the inside with one or more layers of a relatively more porous filter material. For example, the dust bag 50 may be constructed like the lined bag disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,804,166 issued to H. W. Stevens et al. on August 27, 1957. However, if desired, the bag 50 may be just an unlined porous paper bag.

As is indicated at FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the scored lines 32, 34 and 36 in the sheet 14 are made in one face of the blank 10, while the scored lines 44, 46 and 48 in sheet 16 are made in the opposite face of the blank. It is not indispensable that the scored lines 32 and 34, which are to be severed eventually, be made in one face and that the scored lines 44 and 46, which will also be severed eventually, be made in opposite face of the blank.

It is preferred that the short lines 32, 34, 44 and 46 be scored, rather than completely out through the sheets 14 and 16 which would, in effect, continue the cut lines 26 and 28 and the cut lines 38 and 40 to the edges 30 and 42, respectively. By making these lines short scored lines the flaps 22 and 24 will remain secured in co-planar relationship with their respective sheets 14 and 16 during the various manufacturing steps preceding the realization of the assembled dust bag of FIG. 3 and the packaging thereof. If, on the other hand, the cut lines 26 and 28 Were continued to the edge 30 of flap 22 and the cut lines 38 and 40 were continued to the edge 42 of flap 24, these flaps might easily get out of co-planar relation with their sheets thereby appreciably raising the edges 30 and 42 so that these raised edges, or any other part of the raised flaps for that matter, would be susceptible of being caught in the processing machinery employed to form and package the subject end closure.

Also, it is preferred that the scored hinged lines 36 and 48, which will not be severed but will act as hinges, be made in opposite faces of the blank 10 so that when the blank is folded, the scored hingle lines 36 and 48 are in the upper face of their respective plies or sheets 14 and 16, as shown in FIG. 4. The reason for having the scored hinge lines 36 and 48 in the upper faces of their plies or sheets is that the flaps 22 and 24, as they are being swung into the dust bag 58 to the positions shown in FIG. 6, will have less tendency to tear at these hinge lines than would be the case if the scored hinge lines 36 and 48 were in the lower faces (i.e., the faces nearest the dust bags interior) of their plies or sheets. Moreover, if these scored lines 36 and 48, having a V-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 4, were in the lower faces of their respective plies or sheets there would have to be an angle of at least ninety degrees between the opposing faces of the sheet material defining the V-configuration. If the angle were less than ninety degrees the opposing faces defining the V-configuration would come into contact before the flaps 22 and 24 would reach the positions shown in FIG. 6 and further movement of the flaps toward such positions would cause tearing at the scored hinge lines 36 and 48.

As shown at FIG. 4 the flaps 22 and 24 are arranged in overlapping relation and are, in effect, cantilevered from their respective sheets 14 and 16. As indicated, the flap 24 is normally overlapped by part of the flap 22 and covers the hole 18 while the flap 22 covers the hole 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dust bag 50, which has not as yet been expanded by airflow, is situated in place in the dust bag compartment 52 of the tank or canister 54 of a tank-type vacuum cleaner. Apertures such as 60 are provided in the wall of the compartment 52 to allow airflow to pass therethrough from the dust bag 50 and onward through the tank unit 54. As shown, the hinged end cover 56 of the vacuum cleaner is about to be closed so that its suction inlet conduit 58 can apply force to the flaps 22 and 24 to sever the short scored lines 32, 34, 44 and 46 and swing the flaps into the dust bag about those portions of the sheets which have the scored hinge lines 36 and 48 therein.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the end cover 56 is closed the suction inlet conduit 58 protrudes into the bag through the registering enlarged openings, or apertures, defined in the end closure 10a. These registering enlarged openings, or apertures, form one aperture which is generally elliptical in shape and it is defined by the holes 18 and 20 and the spaces contiguous thereto which are left in the plies 14 and 16 when the fiaps 22 and 24 have hinged inwardly into the bag 50. Encompassing the suction inlet conduit 58 is annular sealing member 62. The sealing member 62 may be fashioned from rubber or the like. As shown at FIG. 6 the sealing member 62 serves to provide a seal between the inlet conduit 58 and the outer face of the upper ply 14 of the subject end closure so that airflow into the dust bag 50 can only occur through the inlet conduit 58.

As shown at FIG. 7, after the dust bag 50 has become filled with dust, dirt, lint, etc. and the end cover 56 has been opened to withdraw the inlet conduit 58 from the interior of the dust bag, the flaps 22 and 24 will return to substantially their original positions. That is, flap 24 will move into overlapping relationship with flap 22 and, in so doing, the flap 24 will cover the hole 18 in the upper ply 14 and the flap 22 will cover the hole 20 in the lower ply 16. Thus, there is provided a substantially self-sealing disposable dust bag.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown another configuration of the end closure according to the present invention. In this embodiment, there is provided a blank 10b of flexible material, such as cardboard, similar to the blank 10 in FIG. 1. This blank 1% is also divided into two equal halt sections or sheets 14a and 16a by a centrally located scored line 12:: about which the blank 10b is to be folded in half, in the same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to the blank 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4. In the sheet 14:: there is a piece completely removed therefrom to provide a hole 180. Similarly, there is a smaller piece completely removed from the sheet 16a to provide the hole 20a. In order to form the flap 22a the two circular arcs 26a and 28a are cut through the sheet 14a. Intermediate these cuts 26a and 28a and the edge 30a,

which has a nose portion 30]) extending therefrom, are

the two relatively short scored lines 32a and 34a. Eventually, these scored lines 32a and 3411 will be severed by the inlet conduit 58. Also, intermediate the cut lines 26a and 28a is the straight line 36a which eventually will serve as a hinge line about which the flap 22a may be rotated. To provide the flap 24a the sheet 16a is similarly formed in that two circular arcs 38a and 49a are cut through the sheet 16a. Also, the two small arcuate scored lines 44a and 46a, which eventually are to be severed, are made between the edge 42a of the flap 24a and the cut lines 38:: and a. A generally straight scored line 48a which will eventually serve as a hinge line about which the flap may be rotated is made intermediate the cut lines 38a and 400.

As indicated the flaps 22a and 24a are of different lengths, flap 240 being larger than flap 220. Also, the hole 18a is larger than the hole 29a. When the flaps are swung away from the planes of their respective sheets they leave enlarged openings, or apertures. These enlarged openings, or apertures, include the holes 18a and 20arespectively, which were contiguous with the respective flaps before the flaps were swung away from the planes of their respective sheets; the enlarged openings, or apertures, being generally circular. When the sheets are folded on the scored line 12a so as to superimpose one on the other, as shown at FIG. 9, the enlarged openings, or apertures, are substantially in register and eventually will provide one generally circular aperture through which the inlet conduit 58 can protrude into the dust bag in the same way as shown at FIG. 6. When the dust bag has become filled and the inlet conduit 58 is withdrawn therefrom the flaps 22a and 24a return substantially to the planes of their respective sheets 14a and 16a in the same way as shown at FIG. 7. Advantageously, as the flaps 22a and 24a are returning toward the planes of their respective sheets there is relatively little frictional contact between the leading or free edge of one flap and the face of the other flap because only a small surface area of the nose portion 30b of flap 22a will be in sliding contact with the upper face of the flap 24a. As a consequence, both flaps 22a and 24a will return to substantially a co-planar relation with its respective sheet and thereby both flaps will substantially close the enlarged circular opening or aperture completely which the flaps once defined when they were in the positions like the flaps 22 and 24 of FIG. 6.

While there has been shown and described two more or less specific embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purposes of illustration only and that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An end closure for a dust bag comp-rising: two superimposed flexible sheets, each sheet having one aperture therein coplanar with said sheet, a portion of each sheet being cut to define a single flap integral with said sheet and normally cantilevered therefrom into said one aperture and in coplanar relation with said one aperture to close .a major part of said aperture while leaving a single minor part of said aperture open, the apertures in the superimposed sheets being substantially in registry, both flaps, when in coplanar relation with their respective apertures, being arranged such that they extend in substantial- 1y diametrically opposite directions toward each other and overlap each other with the flap in one sheet completely covering the single open minor part of the aperture in the other sheet and the flap in said other sheet completely covering the single open minor part of the aperture in said one sheet.

2. An end closure for a dust bag comprising: first and second superimposed flexible sheets, each sheet having one aperture therethr-ough coplanar With said sheet and a single flap defined therein which is integral with said sheet and normally cantilevered therefrom into said one aperture and in coplanar relation with said one aperture to close a major part of said aperture while leaving .a single minor part of said aperture open, the apertures in the superimposed sheets being substantially in registry, both flaps, when in coplanar relation with their respective apertures, being arranged such that they extend in substantially diametrically opposite directions toward each other and overlap each other with the flap in first sheet completely covering the single open minor part of the aperture in the second sheet and the flap in said second sheet completely covering the single open minor part of the aperture in said first sheet, both flaps being adapted to be forcibly swung into the dust bag to open the major parts of the apertures and uncover the minor parts thereof thereby defining an enlarged opening through both sheets comprising the registering apertures, said flaps returnifng to their normal positions when force is removed theretom.

3. An end closure for a dust bag comprising: a sheet of flexible material having first and second spaced-apart apertures therethrough coplanar with said sheet, said sheet having integrally defined therein a first flap and a second flap, said first flap being normally cantilevered from said sheet into said first aperture and in coplanar relation therewith to close a major part of the first aperture while leaving a single minor part of the first aperture open, said second flap being normally cantilevered from said sheet into said second aperture and in coplanar relation therewith to close a major part of the second aperture while leaving a single minor part of the second aperture open, said sheet being folded to form a two-ply member with said first and second apertures in registration and with said first and second flaps, when coplanar with their respective aforesaid apertures, being so arranged that they extend in substantially diametrically opposite directions toward each other and overlap each other with said first flap completely covering the single minor open part of said second aperture and said second flap completely covering the single minor open part of said first aperture, both flaps being adapted to be swung by force into the dust bag to open the closed major parts of the apertures and uncover the open minor parts thereof thereby defining an opening comprising the registered apertures, both flaps returning to co-planar relationship with their respective apertures when the force is removed.

4. An end closure for a dust bag comprising: two

superimposed sheets of flexible material, each sheet having an aperture thereth-rough which is coplanar with the sheet, the apertures in the superimposed sheets being substantially in registration, each sheet including a portion thereof having a plurality of cuts therethrough and a plurality of scorings therein defining a flap which is oo-planar with the aperture in its sheet and is adapted for being partially severed from said sheet, the flap in each sheet, when coplanar with its aperture, closing a major part of said aperture and leaving a minor part of said aperture open, the flaps, when co-planar with their respective apertures, being so arranged that they extend in substantially diametrically opposite directions toward each other and overlap each other with the flap in one sheet covering the open minor part of the aperture in the other sheet and the flap in said other sheet covering the open minor part of the aperture in said one sheet, each flap being severable from its sheet at all but one of said scorings therein as force is applied to the flaps to swing them into the dust bag, the unsevered scorings in the two sheets being located on opposite sides of the registered apertures and serving as hinges about which said flaps swing into the dust bag, said flaps returning to positions which are substantially co-p'lanar with their respective apertures when the force is removed from the flaps.

5. An end closure for a dust bag comprising: two superimposed flexible sheets, each sheet having one aperture therein coplanar with said sheet, a portion of one sheet being cut to define a single flap integral with said sheet and normally cantilevered therefrom into said one aperture and in coplanar relation with said one aperture to close a major part of said aperture while leaving a single minor part of said aperture open, a portion of the other sheet being cut to define a single flap integral With said other sheet and normally cantilevered therefrom into the aperture of said other sheet to close a portion thereof greater than the minor open part of the aperture in the first sheet while leaving a single part of said aperture in said other sheet open, the apertures in the superimposed sheets being substantially in registry, both flaps, when in coplanar relation with their respective apertures, being arranged such that they extend in substantially diametrically opposite directions toward each other and overlap each other with the flap in said one sheet completely covering the open part of the aperture in said other sheet and the flap in said other sheet completely covering the single open minor part of the aperture in said one sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,332 10/ 1950 Bergquist. 2,574,683 11/1951 Anderson 55367 2,596,806 5/ 1952 Borkoski. 2,804,166 8/1957 Stevens et al. 22962.5 X 2,848,062 8/1958 Meyerhoefer 55-367 3,108,736 10/1963 Anderson et a1 229-62.5

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. AND END CLOSURE FOR A DUST BAG COMPRISING: TWO SUPERIMPOSED FLEXIBLE SHEETS, EACH SHEET HAVING ONE APERTURE THEREIN COPLANAR WITH SAID SHEET, A PORTION OF EACH SHEET BEING CUT TO DEFINE A SINGLE FLAP INTEGRAL WITH SAID SHEET AND NORMALLY CANTILEVERED THEREFROM INTO SAID ONE APERTURE AND IS COPLANAR RELATION WITH SAID ONE APERTURE TO CLOSE A MAJOR PART OF SAID APERTURE WHILE LEAVING A SINGLE MINOR PART OF SAID APERTURE OPEN, THE APERTURES IN THE SUPERMPOSED SHEETS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN REGISTRY, BOTH FLAPS, WHEN IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE APERTURES, BEING ARRANGED SUCH THAT THEY EXTEND IN SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND OVERLAP EACH OTHER WITH THE FLAP IN ONE SHEET COMPOLETELY COVERING THE SINGLE OPEN MINOR PART OF THE APERTURE IN THE OTHER SHEET AND THE FLAP IN SAID OTHER SHEET COMPLETELY COVERING THE SINGLE OPEN MINOR PART OF THE APERTURE IN SAID ONE SHEET. 